Culinary chemistry: It's what's not in the water that can matter most

NEWBURY, Ohio, June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- You decide to make your favorite soup, using the finest, freshest ingredients. Without giving it a second thought, you use water from the tap and unknowingly could add a variety of unwanted minerals, tastes, aromas and chemicals as well.

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Does the water you use really make a difference? 

"Yes," according to chef and restaurant owner Steve Schimoler, who discovered the value of purified water when he moved his restaurant, Crop Bistro & Bar to a dramatic, historical building in Cleveland's Ohio City area, a neighborhood where aging pipes are prevalent.

"I never gave much thought to the water I used until I was connected with Kinetico and had the opportunity to research the role that water plays in my kitchen and restaurant. I quickly found the water that was purified using reverse osmosis technology provided me with a clean canvas which allowed the flavors and ingredients I used to shine," Schimoler said. The reverse osmosis process significantly reduced unwanted minerals, aromas and chemicals to purify the water.

A new blog and video launched this week on www.kinetico.com featuring Schimoler with information on trends, recipes and making the most of cooking with water.

"Water has become one of my most valuable ingredients," said Schimoler, who has been recognized nationally as a pioneer in blending culinary art and food science, and has developed hundreds of products for many of the nation's top consumer food, beverage and equipment companies. "For example, I came to realize that when reducing a stock to make a soup or sauce made with unpurified water, many of the impurities in the water become concentrated and compete with the other ingredients and create off-tastes and aromas. When cooking with purified water, those impurities are no longer there to compete with the subtle flavors of ingredients such as rosemary, ginger and lemongrass."

Putting purified water on the culinary radar

While we're a society that increasingly values ingredients that are wholesome, chemical-free, organic and flavorful, the benefits of using purified water as an ingredient have not been on our radar. "It sounds so simple, but as a chef I go out of my way to procure the finest ingredients for my dishes. Why wouldn't I want the finest water?" noted Schimoler. "Water is the foundation of so many recipes. It can represent the majority of a recipe, and its quality can affect the outcome of a dish."

Beyond the kitchen, Crop Bistro also offers the purified Kinetico water in signature bottles on each table for guests. The water running through the soda and ice dispensers has also been purified.  "Our customers comment on how great the water is. And by bottling the water, it demonstrates that we take extra steps to show we care about the water we serve," he noted. "We've also raised the bar by using purified water in our beverages, all of which greatly benefit from starting with a crystal clear basis and no competing flavors."

How does reverse osmosis work?

The Kinetico brand water system Schimoler uses throughout his restaurant employs three-phases of filtration featuring reverse osmosis technology. During this process, water passes through a semi-permeable membrane to filter out inorganic contaminants such as metals and nitrates leaving impurities to be discarded. The system also uses pre-filtration which eliminates larger particles and chlorine as well as post-filtration designed to eliminate unpleasant tastes or smells that might remain.

Taste isn't the only improvement Schimoler has seen in his business. The use of the Kinetico water system, which includes a water softener, has resulted in increased energy efficiency and improved performance in appliances which use water; from the dishwashing machine which uses 30 percent less detergent and leaves glassware more sparkling clean to less deposit build up in the ice maker and steam-generated ovens and steamers.

"I've been so impressed with the results that I want to help raise awareness about how a Kinetico water system can make a difference not only in cooking, but also in the effectiveness of appliances. I plan to take some time in the future to reach out to the public at food shows and other public venues to share my experiences," he said. "Going forward, my blogs and videos on www.kinetico.com will provide consumers with recipes and practical tips on how purified water can make a difference in your life and home."

About Kinetico

Headquartered in Newbury, Ohio, U.S.A., Kinetico is a leading manufacturer of water treatment systems. An extensive network of Kinetico dealers serving residential and commercial customers has helped more than a million people in nearly 100 countries experience the benefits of better water. Since 1970, Kinetico has prided itself on creating state-of-the-art water treatment systems that serve customers in an expanding variety of applications. The company also has offices and facilities in the United Kingdom, Canada, France and Denmark. Further information is available at www.kinetico.com.

Joyce Penhallurick or Jennifer Reece
Yopko Penhallurick LLC
[email protected] or [email protected]
440-543-8615

Photos Available Upon Request

SOURCE Kinetico